Hayley sighed for the umpteenth time at seeing the visitor’s form in front of her. So Ashton had come here in her absence to see her. What could he possibly want? She wasn’t going down that path again. He could have an affair with whoever he pleased. It had almost been two months since she had last seen him, but her life had changed drastically in those last few months.
Ever since she had moved into her parents’ house, she could feel the topic of her marriage cropping up almost daily.
At a charity event, her mom and granny met Jason again. He showed a keen interest in her, which got her family rethinking their decision.
“I’m not interested in marrying Jason.” Her decision was final but her granny pestered her almost every day. Hayley had no idea what personal gain she would get out of their relationship.
“He has changed a lot, my dear. He wants to come over to dinner, just for you. Meet him once and see for yourself,” coaxed her granny.
“I don’t want to. If he comes over, I’ll move out,” Hayley threatened them before rushing to her room. This was the exact reason she had fled her home. She knew she had no hopes with Ashton, but it was better to remain alone all her life than to marry Jason Lowells. Her threat quietened Granny for a few days, although she didn’t look pleased with her. Hayley didn’t pay any heed and continued with her hectic schedule. Her dad guided her every step of the way. She preferred commuting to work with her dad, as it would prevent Ashton from approaching her.
She had seen the woman a few times emerging from the resorts, which only proved that Ashton was still seeing her.
She crumpled the form and threw it in the wastepaper basket. No, she wouldn’t see him at all.
A call from Sienna got her attention. “Yes, Sien. How’s life?” she asked, starting the speaker mode and stretching her tired limbs.
“I’m okay, but Eva isn’t. She has landed again in the hospital. Please Hails, can you see her? I’m too tied up at the moment. I received a call from Doctor Victor Garrett who works with her. I’ll forward his number and you can have a word with him.”
“Oh, my gosh! I’ll see her right away.”
Hayley drove over to Bellevue Hospital to get her friend, determined to bring her over to her house. However, she found out that Eva had already been discharged a few hours ago. She met the young doctor who directed her to the staff quarters.
Hayley drove over to the building a block away and stormed towards the apartment the young doctor had mentioned.
The building was old but nicely maintained and overcrowded beyond capacity. There were nurses going or returning from duty, and people rushing everywhere, in the corridors and on the stairs. The commotion was maddening! Everyone gaped at her, since she was quite a misfit here in her designer pantsuit and sophisticated appearance, but Hayley didn’t bother. She was here on a mission and the faster she could get Eva out of this hellhole, the better it would be for her health. She glanced at the door of apartment 30C and knocked.
The door flew open and she could hear someone laughing and chatting on the phone. She gestured to her to enter the room, and Hayley peered inside. It was a tiny place over-stuffed with things, mostly lying strewn around. She knew Eva loved to keep her stuff arranged, so it should all belong to the other woman. No, she wouldn’t let her friend live here. She would fall sicker. The place was totally suffocating and smelly!
She saw Eva lying down on a tiny single bed near the wall, covered in a blanket. She turned to see who had arrived, but her jaws dropped at seeing Hayley.
“Hails?” she asked, sitting upright.
“Yes, you’re coming home with me, Eva. No arguments.” She said, going to get her suitcase that was lying on the floor near her bed. She had seen the suitcase before, so she grabbed hold of it before Eva could protest.
“No, Hails. I don’t want to inconvenience your family.” Hayley scoffed at her illogical statement. Her mansion was enormous and in no way could she inconvenience anyone.
“Rubbish. Get up and let’s go.” Eva got up and slowly got ready. She didn’t have much stuff anyway and Hayley loaded everything in her car. Helping her friend climb in, she drove over to her parents’ house.
No one was at home when she returned except her aunt Meredith. She welcomed Eva with open arms and checked up on her.
“Don’t be so stressed. Be happy and you will be fine,” said Aunt Meredith, who was a cardiologist.
“Yes, I will,” promised Eva. Hayley helped her settle into her room. Elsa brought in a hearty bowl of soup and bread and soon she fell asleep due to sheer exhaustion.
The next morning she felt much better, but Hayley wouldn’t let her leave or rejoin her work.
“I’m fine Hails! It’s just stress!” protested Eva the next morning.
“Still, you’ll be spending the day here in bed. Your hospital just discharged you yesterday. They wouldn’t be expecting you to rejoin work this soon,” Hayley scolded Eva while Elsa brought her some milk and cereal.
“Are you going to work?” Eva asked with a sigh, and Hayley nodded.
“I have two consecutive meetings today. I can’t afford to take leave, but we will catch up in the evening. You owe me an explanation for this. How can you neglect your health, Eva?” she scolded her friend.
“It’s just work pressure and nothing else. There isn’t any explanation other than that.”
“Why can’t I believe you? What are you hiding from me, Eva? I know you had gone to California with Alexander. Tell me if he has hurt you. I’ll crush his old bones!” Eva glared at her friend with annoyance.
“He isn’t old, okay? Just six years older than us. So is Ashton.”
“See? I knew you would react this way. Now tell me you didn’t fall sick because of Alexander. When I return, I want the truth.” She went to get ready for work.
“Stop worrying so much, Eva. Meditate instead. It will help you. I’ll try to return early. Don’t run away,” said Hayley, coming into her room, ready in a black formal pantsuit.
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll take a walk in your garden and rest. I won’t go anywhere till you give me permission to leave. Happy?” she said, making Hayley smile with relief.
“Yes, happy. Bye, see you.”
“Bye.”
Hayley felt relieved to be able to help her friend. She was already late and drove over to the office. After reaching the parking lot, she climbed out of her car with a frown, walking absent-mindedly towards the elevator. Her dad had already left without her and she had to drive all the way, through the heavy traffic. However, as bad luck would have it, she collided with someone in front of the elevator.
“Ow,” she gasped, rubbing her nose and looking up into Ashton’s angry eyes. Clad in an immaculate gray suit, he looked dangerously handsome, yet formidable. This was exactly what she had been dreading! How did he know she was all alone today?
“Ashton?” she gasped again, trying to get free of his iron-like hold on her waist. He pulled her into the elevator instead and closed the door, pausing it on its way up.
Trapped in the elevator with him, Hayley panicked. There was no way she could escape him now.
“What is the meaning of this, Ashton? Let me go right now. I’m already late,” she hissed angrily, but he kept watching her with a brooding expression on his face.
“Why should I let you go? I have a right to be with you. Remember, you agreed to be my girlfriend,” he reminded her bitterly. She wrenched herself free and glared at him.
“I was foolish enough to agree, but now I’ve realized my mistake. You don’t deserve my love, Ashton. You will remain the detestable man-who*e all your life. For you, emotions and feelings don’t mean a thing. It’s just se*, that too from an experienced woman like the one you’re dating currently. Does she please you in bed the way you wanted? No wonder she still visits you frequently here too at your office for a quickie. Don’t even think of denying it. I’ve seen her with my own eyes. You know what, Ashton? You’re an as*hole,” she yelled at him, opening the elevator doors and running out.
Ashton stood frozen like a statue at her outburst. His mind absorbed her words and constricted with pain. Everything became crystal clear to him. So Hayley loved him! Then why wasn’t he happy with her admission?
Maybe because the rest of her words shocked him. When did Madison come over to his workplace? As far as he knew, he met her last two months ago for dinner. She hadn’t shown her face ever since. Then how could Hayley see her?